CVE-2024-54131: Github.com/kolide/launcher Kolide Agent Privilege Escalation (Windows, Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-66q9-2rvx-qfj5
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CWE-456 CWE-276
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-54131 is a HIGH kolide agent privilege escalation (windows, vulnerability (CWE-456: Missing Initialization of a Variable) affecting Github.com/kolide/launcher libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves kolide agent privilege escalation (windows, versions >= 1.5.3, < 1.12.3). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.12.3.

CVE-2024-54131 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-54131
GHSA Identifier GHSA-66q9-2rvx-qfj5
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-456: Missing Initialization of a Variable
Affected Product Github.com/kolide/launcher
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2024-54131

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/kolide/launcher dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/kolide/launcher fixed: 1.12.3 
Upgrade github.com/kolide/launcher to 1.12.3
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/kolide/launcher

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2024-54131, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/kolide/launcher:

inspect dependencies for github.com/kolide/launcher

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/kolide/launcher in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.12.3), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-456: Missing Initialization of a Variable, where the product does not initialize critical variables, which causes the execution environment to use unexpected values. In Github.com/kolide/launcher, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

An implementation bug in the Kolide Agent (known as `launcher`) allows for local privilege escalation to the SYSTEM user on Windows 10 and 11. Impacted versions include versions >= 1.5.3 and the fix has been released in 1.12.3. The bug was introduced in version 1.5.3 when launcher started storing upgraded binaries in the ProgramData directory (#1510). This move to the new directory meant the launcher root directory inherited default permissions that are not as strict as the previous location. These incorrect default permissions in conjunction with an omitted SystemDrive environmental variable (when launcher starts osqueryd), allows a malicious actor with access to the local Windows device to successfully place an arbitrary DLL into the osqueryd process's search path. Under some circumstances, this DLL will be executed when osqueryd performs a WMI query. This combination of events could then allow the attacker to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM. This issue was found by Bryan Alexander of Atredis Partners and responsibly reported through the Kolide bug bounty program. Kolide made the appropriate changes and released a fix in version 1.12.3 of the `launcher` package.

CVE-2024-54131 Affected Github.com/kolide/launcher Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.12.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/kolide/launcher
golang/github.com/kolide/launcher
Go
≥ 1.5.3
< 1.12.3
1.12.3

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/kolide/launcher/security/advisories/GHSA-66q9-2rvx-qfj5
Github.com/kolide/launcher Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kolide/launcher/pull/1510
Github.com/kolide/launcher Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/kolide/launcher

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-54131?
CVE-2024-54131 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/kolide/launcher involving Kolide Agent Privilege Escalation (Windows, Versions >= 1.5.3, < 1.12.3) under CWE-456: Missing Initialization of a Variable.
Which Github.com/kolide/launcher versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.12.3 across affected packages: github.com/kolide/launcher.
What version fixes CVE-2024-54131?
Upgrading to 1.12.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/kolide/launcher affected?
Yes, github.com/kolide/launcher is affected in releases prior to 1.12.3. Upgrade your dependency to 1.12.3 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-54131?
CVE-2024-54131 is classified under CWE-456: Missing Initialization of a Variable (The product does not initialize critical variables, which causes the execution environment to use unexpected values.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2024-54131?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/kolide/launcher'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-66q9-2rvx-qfj5",
  "modified" : "2024-12-03T20:56:58Z",
  "published" : "2024-12-03T20:56:58Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-54131" ],
  "summary" : "Kolide Agent Privilege Escalation (Windows, Versions >= 1.5.3, < 1.12.3)",
  "details" : "An implementation bug in the Kolide Agent (known as `launcher`) allows for local privilege escalation to the SYSTEM user on Windows 10 and 11. Impacted versions include versions >= 1.5.3 and the fix has been released in 1.12.3. \n\nThe bug was introduced in version 1.5.3 when launcher started storing upgraded binaries in the ProgramData directory (#1510). This move to the new directory meant the launcher root directory inherited default permissions that are not as strict as the previous location. These incorrect default permissions in conjunction with an omitted SystemDrive environmental variable (when launcher starts osqueryd), allows a malicious actor with access to the local Windows device to successfully place an arbitrary DLL into the osqueryd process's search path. Under some circumstances, this DLL will be executed when osqueryd performs a WMI query. This combination of events could then allow the attacker to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM.\n\nThis issue was found by Bryan Alexander of Atredis Partners and responsibly reported through the Kolide bug bounty program. Kolide made the appropriate changes and released a fix in version 1.12.3 of the `launcher` package.\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/kolide/launcher"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.5.3"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.12.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kolide/launcher/security/advisories/GHSA-66q9-2rvx-qfj5"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kolide/launcher/pull/1510"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/kolide/launcher"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-276", "CWE-456" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-12-03T20:56:58Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}